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Definition 2024
beon
beon
Old English
Verb
bēon
- to be
Usage notes
The verb "to be" in Old English was suppletive, and used forms from at least three different roots. There were two distinct present stems, for which wesan and bēon were the two infinitive forms. The present bēon was used to express permanent truths (the "gnomic present"), while wesan was used for the present participle and the preterite. They both shared the same past tense forms.
Conjugation
Conjugation of bēon (irregular)
| infinitive | bēon | tō bēonne |
|---|---|---|
| indicative | present | past |
| 1st-person singular | bēo, bēom | wæs |
| 2nd-person singular | bist | wǣre |
| 3rd-person singular | biþ | wæs |
| plural | bēoþ | wǣron |
| subjunctive | present | past |
| singular | bēo | wǣre |
| plural | bēon | wǣren |
| imperative | ||
| singular | bēo | |
| plural | bēoþ | |
| participle | present | past |
| wesende | ġebēon | |